11th century Bliaunt - At an impass

Well, I thought I would be posting that I finished my green Bliaunt today, but I've hit a major snag.  I got the gussets pinned and sewn up and the arms sewn up.  Tried it on and realized that the bobbin thread hadn't caught.  I spent two hours sewing and fighting with a jamming bobbin and cleaning and taking the bobbin casing apart only to have it all go up in flames.  Argh.

Good news is a guy in the town 15 minutes away fixes singers and gives free estimates.  I also have two wonderful friends who are going to loan me a sewing machine and to help me find a backup.

OK, next...